State officials are urging people to have a safe and responsible celebration ahead of the Fourth of July holiday period.

“I’m pleased to join my colleagues to encourage Pennsylvanians to keep safety at the forefront this holiday weekend and all summer long,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll in a press conference last week. “Whether your plans this summer include hiking, biking, boating or a backyard barbecue, PennDOT urges motorists to always plan ahead and designate a sober driver or arrange for alternate transportation. Never drive impaired.”

According to PennDOT data, in 2023 there were 38 alcohol-related crashes from July 4 through 6 a.m. July 5, resulting in two fatalities and 23 injuries. During the same time, there were 10 drug-related crashes, resulting in one fatality and eight injuries.

Last summer, from June through August, there were 2,375 crashes involving impaired driving, resulting in 116 fatalities and 1,575 injuries.

State parks

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forest lands that permit recreational activities including boating and ATV riding. Pennsylvania ranks top five in the U.S. for ATV crashes, with many of those incidents involving alcohol.

Possessing, selling or consuming alcoholic beverages is prohibited on DCNR land, except at specially-designated facilities operated or leased by the department. DCNR reminds visitors to practice safe behavior, follow recreation guidelines, and to comply with all posted safety signage.

“Whether in transit to and from our beautiful parks and forests or using a motorized vehicle to spend time in nature, we encourage all visitors to be responsible as we celebrate our independence,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Safety is extremely important when spending time outdoors and we encourage visitors to always practice safe behavior when taking in nature on public lands.”

Over the holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement will conduct checkpoints and roving patrols as part of the Fourth of July Impaired Driving Campaign. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of nearly $6 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.

On the water

Data from the Fish and Boat Commission shows that there were 39 boating-under-the-influence arrests in 2023.

Pennsylvania is a boating destination state, and boaters drive to and from their boating location. When an impaired boat operator gets behind the wheel to drive home, a BUI becomes a DUI.

“Boating while impaired affects judgment and can delay reaction time on the water no differently than if you were driving a car, with the additional risk of drowning,” said PFBC Director of the Bureau of Law Enforcement Colonel Jeffrey Sabo. “Boating under the influence puts everyone at risk, including passengers and others enjoying the water.”

Health concerns

Besides the dangers of impaired driving, Pennsylvania residents should keep an eye out for other potential health concerns during Independence Day weekend.

“Many Pennsylvanians spend a lot of time outdoors for Fourth of July celebrations; wearing sunscreen helps protect skin from harmful UV rays, reducing the risk of sunburn and skin cancer,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Choose sunscreens that are ‘broad-spectrum’ with UVA and UVB protection and have an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours if residents are in direct sunlight.”

Additionally, spending extended periods of time outside when the weather is warmer can lead to heat-related illnesses. Older adults are especially susceptible to the intense heat. For information on preventing heat-related illnesses or identifying heat-related symptoms, visit the Department of Health’s webpage, https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Heat-Illness.aspx.

“Summer is a very active time of year with an increase in social events that present more opportunities for alcohol use, in particular,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. For individuals struggling with a substance use disorder or those in recovery, remember your support system, and do not hesitate to use them if needed.

Individuals seeking substance use treatment or recovery resources can be connected to local substance use disorder resources by calling the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or by using Treatment Atlas, https://treatmentatlas.org, a free, online locator tool to help Pennsylvanians confidentially find SUD treatment that meets their needs.

Fireworks

For Pennsylvanians celebrating at home this holiday, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner has launched a new fireworks safety campaign which can be seen across the state or online at osfc.pa.gov/fireworks.

“Fireworks are capable of causing serious injury or death and must be treated with extreme caution,” said Deputy State Fire Commissioner John “J.C.” Tedorski. “In 2022, fireworks were involved in more than 10,000 visits to the ER. And in 2018 fireworks started 19,500 fires and caused over $100 million in property damage. A few simple precautions can ensure that you are not contributing to these alarming statistics.”